Game apparatus and method

Abstract

A game apparatus with a circular base and concave depressions formed around the periphery of the base for engaging cup-like receptacles. The receptacles are removable from the depressions via notches formed in the base for receiving fingertips. Game pieces are moved around the receptacles in accordance with the method of playing the game for capturing game pieces and exchanging respective receptacles.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A game apparatus comprising: a) a base having a periphery;   b) a plurality of game pieces for being distributed about the periphery of the base;   c) a plurality of depressions disposed about the periphery of the base for retaining the game pieces, the game pieces being readily visible when retained by the depressions, wherein each of the depressions comprises a concave portion; and   d) a plurality of color-coded receptacles for identifying ownership of each of the depressions, each of the receptacles having opposing faces, one of the faces being concave, the other face being convex, and the convex face of each of the receptacles being engageable with the concave portion of each of the depressions, the receptacles thereby being removably engageable within each of the depressions.   
     
     
       2. The game apparatus of claim 1, and further comprising storage means on the base for engaging and storing the color-coded receptacles and game pieces. 
     
     
       3. The game apparatus of claim 2, wherein the storage means comprises a cavity disposed inwardly of the periphery. 
     
     
       4. The game apparatus of claim 3 and including at least four cavities formed in the base. 
     
     
       5. The game apparatus of claim 4, wherein each of the cavities includes three sides, one of the sides being curved and adjacent to the depressions, the other two sides extending inwardly from the depressions to intersect adjacent to a central region of the base. 
     
     
       6. The game apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the depressions further comprises a notch leading into its respective concave portion for receiving the tip of a finger for easy removal of the receptacles from their respective depressions. 
     
     
       7. The game apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the receptacles and each of the depressions have approximately a common depth. 
     
     
       8. A game apparatus comprising: a) an integral base having a peripheral band and a circular border;   b) a plurality of circular concave depressions formed in the peripheral band of the base;   c) a plurality of circular receptacles for placement in the depressions, each of the receptacles having a convex face and a concave face, each of the receptacles being removably engagable in each of the depressions such that the convex face of each of the receptacles is confrontable with each of the concave depressions;   d) a set of at least four cavities formed in the base inwardly of the periphery for storing the receptacles, each of the cavities having a width greater than each of the receptacles; and   e) a plurality of game pieces for placement in the receptacles, each of the game pieces being of a size smaller than each of the receptacles.   
     
     
       9. The game apparatus of claim 8 and further comprising a plurality of notches, each of the notches leading into one of the concave depressions for receiving the tip of a finger for easy removal of the receptacles from their respective depressions. 
     
     
       10. The game apparatus of claim 8, wherein each of the receptacles and each of the depressions have approximately a common depth. 
     
     
       11. The game apparatus of claim 8, wherein each of the cavities includes an outer curved side, the outer curved sides being coaxial with the circular border. 
     
     
       12. The game apparatus of claim 11, and the cavities being defined in part by the peripheral band and a central region forming generally the shape of an "X". 
     
     
       13. The game apparatus of claim 8, and the peripheral band of the base being tapered. 
     
     
       14. A game apparatus comprising: a) a base having a circular peripheral band, a circular border, and a central region forming generally the shape of an "X", the peripheral band being tapered, the circular border being formed by an upright wall, the band, border, and central region being integral such that the base is in one piece;   b) a plurality of at least twelve circular concave depressions formed in the peripheral band of the base, the depressions formed in a circle and being spaced equidistant from each other, each of the depressions having a depth;   c) a plurality of at least twelve circular receptacles for placement in the depressions, each of the receptacles having a convex face and a concave face which run parallel to each other, each of the receptacles having a depth defined by its concave face, each of the receptacles having a circular edge, each of the receptacles having a thickness defined by the distance between its concave and convex faces, each of the receptacles being removably engagable in each of the depressions such that the convex face of each of the receptacles is confrontable with each of the concave depressions, the sum of the depth of each of the receptacles and their respective thicknesses being equal to the depth of each of the depressions such that each of the circular edges is approximately flush with the peripheral band;   d) a plurality of notches, each of the notches leading into one of the concave depressions for receiving the tip of a finger for easy removal of the receptacles from their respective depressions, each of the notches disposed inwardly of its respective depression;   e) a set of at least four cavities disposed inwardly of the peripheral band in the central region for storing at least the receptacles, each of the cavities having a width greater than each of the receptacles, each of the cavities including an outer curved side, the outer curved sides being coaxial with the circular border; and   f) a plurality of game pieces for placement in the receptacles, each of the game pieces being of a size smaller than each of the receptacles and at least four game pieces being engagable in one of the receptacles at the same time.   
     
     
       15. A method for playing a game for two or more players in combination with a game apparatus, the combination comprising: a) the game apparatus comprising: 1) a base having an endless path;   2) a plurality of game pieces for being distributed along the endless path;   3) a plurality of retainment means on the endless path for retaining the game pieces, the game pieces being readily visible when retained by the retainment means; and   4) a plurality of identification means for identifying ownership of each of the retainment means, each of the identification means being removably engageable with each of the retainment means, each of the players owning a respective set of possession identification means;     b) the method of playing the game comprising: 1) setting up the game by engaging each of the retainment means with one possession identification means and by placing a given number of game pieces within each of the retainment means;   2) then one of the players choosing a chosen retainment means identified by one of his or her identification means and then beginning to distribute the game pieces of the chosen retainment means one by one into retainment with successive retainment means along the endless path;   3) then distributing the last game piece from the chosen retainment means into retainment with a last successive retainment means and then: i) capturing the game pieces from the last successive retainment means if the last successive retainment means includes the given number of game pieces and thereby the player distributing the game pieces completing his or her turn; or   ii) forming a set of one game piece on the last successive retainment means and thereby the player distributing the game pieces completing his or her turn; or     iii) forming a set of two or more game pieces, except the given number of game pieces, on the last successive retainment means and thereby requiring the player distributing the last game piece to continue his or her turn by further distributing the game pieces from the last successive retainment means until the set of one game piece is formed or until the given number of game pieces is formed in the last successive retainment means in which case the game pieces are captured therefrom;   4) capturing the game pieces from one of the possession retainment means by the given number being formed by a retainment of any of the game pieces, other than the last game piece being distributed, with one of the possession retainment means, the game pieces of which are then captured by the player owning the possession retainment means; and     c) winning a round of the game by capturing more game pieces than any of the other players, the game being completed when the game pieces from the next-to-last noncaptured retainment means are captured, the game pieces from the last remaining retainment means being captured by a predetermined capture agreement.   
     
     
       16. The method of claim 15, wherein the predetermined capture agreement comprises capturing the game pieces from the last remaining engagement means by capturing the game pieces from the next-to-last noncaptured engagement means whereby the player who captures the game pieces from the next-to-last noncaptured engagement means captures the game pieces from the last remaining engagement means.